[0001] This invention relates generally to a warp knit, weft inserted fabric which can be
employed as a female fabric for securing an article of manufacture in a pre-selected
position.
[0002] It is an object of the invention to provide a loop pile fabric which can be employed
as the female member of a securing means, for example by receiving hook members attached
to the article to be secured.
[0003] In accordance with this invention, there is provided a warp knit weft inserted fabric,
characterised in that the face side of the fabric has a plurality of spaced wales
of chain stitches, the back side of the fabric has a plurality of spaced wales of
tricot stitches with a lap portion of the tricot stitches projecting therefrom to
form loops, and weft yarn is inserted in the weft direction between the face side
and the back side of the fabric and held therein by the said chain stitches. In the
accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of hook fasteners in relation to the loop pile
fabric of this invention;
Figure 2 is a top view of the lap (technical back) side of the warp knit fabric of
this invention;
Figure 3 is a point diagram of the action of the guide bars of a knitting machine
to produce the fabric of Figures 1 and 2; and
Figure 4 is a point diagram of the guide bars of a knitting machine to produce a modification
of the fabric of Figures 1-3.
[0004] Looking now to Figure 1, the new and improved fabric 10 has upstanding loops 12 which
are shown in position where they can be engaged by a hook member 11 which consists
of hooks 14 connected to a support member 15. In practice, the fabric 10 would be
connected to a supporting structure (not shown) so that when the article to be secured
in a fixed position, to which the hook member 11 is attached, is projected towards
the loops 12, the hooks 14 will engage the latter and be secured therein. The hook
member 11 is not, per se, a part of the invention and can be of any suitable type,
such as that formed by the molding or casting of nylon to form the desired configuration
shown in Figure 1.
[0005] The fabric 10 of this invention, as represented in Figures 1-4, is a warp knit, weft
inserted fabric knit on a two-bar, weft insertion warp knitting machine. As indicated
in Figures 1 and 2, the loops 12 are lap loops formed by the front bar of the knitting
machine while the weft inserted yarn 16 is held therein by and between the chain stitch
wales 18 formed by the back bar. The fabric 10 thereby presents a surface of loops
12 which can be readily manufactured on a warp knitting machine-and at the same time
provides added strength due to the insertion of the weft yarn 16.
[0006] Figures 1-3 shows one form of the novel fabric constructed with the pattern wheel
for the front bar 70 denier polyester yarn set to knit a 1-0, 2-1 tricot stitch 17
and the pattern wheel for the back bar 150 denier polester yarn set to knit a 0-1,
1-0 chain stitch. The weft inserted filling yarn 16 is a 150 denier polyester yarn.
This form of the fabric provides a lap side loop the height of which is slightly less
than the spacing between adjacent wales of the chain stitch yarn 18.
[0007] If it is desired to provide a fabric with a longer lap side loop, the construction
shown in Figure 4 can be employed with the pattern wheel for the front bar set to
knit a 1-0, 4-3 tricot stitch and the pattern wheel for the back bar set to knit a
0-1, 1-0 chain stitch. In this form of the invention the lap loop 12 for engagement
by the hooks 14 will have a potential height greater than the distance between adjacent
wales in the fabric.
[0008] It can be be readily seen that the invention provides a knitted fabric which can
readily function as the female member of a hook and loop connection and which does
not readily tear, owing to the weft inserted yarn that provides stability in the weft
direction of the fabric.
1. A warp knit weft inserted fabric, characterised in that the face side of the fabric
has a plurality of spaced wales of chain stitches, the back side of the fabric has
a plurality of spaced wales of tricot stitches with a lap portion of the tricot stitches
projecting therefrom to form loops, and weft yarn is inserted in the weft direction
between the face side and the back side of the fabric and held therein by the said
chain stitches.
2. A fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that the said weft yarn is located
betweeb the courses formed by the said chain stitches.
3. A fabric according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the height of a majority
of the lap loops is less than the distance between adjacent wales of chain stitches.
4. A fabric according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the height of a majority
of the lap loops is greater than the distance between adjacent wales of chain stitches.
